Nancy Blackett is now ashore for the winter, following a long and busy autumn afloat, making the most of the unseasonably mild weather.

She was collected last week from her berth at Woolverstone Marina on the spring tide and brought just a mile downriver to Pin Mill by Gus Curtis – to be lifted out at Harry King’s yard (see photo) where she has been settled in opposite another of Arthur Ransome’s boats, Selina King.

Over the next few days her mast will be taken down and stowed away, the bowsprit too will be removed for protection from the worst of the winter weather and a winter cover fitted over her deck, coachroof and cockpit.

Harry King’s looked after Nancy Blackett when Arthur Ransome owned her, and they built Selina King there for him, so in a very real sense, she is truly home, thus bringing her sailing season during the 25th Anniversary year of the Nancy Blackett Trust to an appropriate close.

Last month Nancy Blackett was seen sailing off Pin Mill in the autumn sunshine (photo above) – the boat in the background is Gladys, the Leigh bawley owned (and restored) by Gus Curtis of Harry King’s.

The definitive history of Nancy Blackett by Peter Willis is available from the Nancy Blackett Shop, as are memorabilia of the Trust’s 25th Anniversary and Selina King.

Photos by Sarah Curtis (header/Harry King’s) and Peter Willis (Pin Mill).